Footwear



Dec. 18, 1945.

R. MALING FOOTWEAR Filed Dec. 8, 1944 2l Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

. MALING Dec. 1s, 1945.

FOOTWEAR Filed Dec. 8, 1944 2 LSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Perented ee.' is, 1945 Reyiuaung. Weetv Roxbury, Mers Application Deeember s, 1944, serial Ne. 567,157A s claims." (crac-11) This invention relateste improvements in foot- Wear.

More particularlyl it provides improvements in shoes and slippers whereby a moccasin type foree part mayl be variously combined with shank and heel elements, and with lasted rear parts oi uppers to' provide footwear having structural and visual characteristics of a moccasin but With foot supporting qualities at the shank and heel regions comparable with what are customary in shoes and slippers having built-in archfsupporting 1 `qualities.

It isamong the objects of the inventiontto .pro

' vide .a shoe or slipper construction wherein a moccasin type forepart of `upper and a regularly lasted rear part of upper may-.be secnre'drespectively to the under side and the upper side of a platform andheel unit with the ysheet material of the forepart of upper completely covering, `as a tread surface, the under surface of the forepart of the platform and having an integral rearwardly extending portionfacing at least a substantial rear portion of the under side of the .l platform and heel unit.

. Anothervobjectv is to provide a shoe or slipper structure having an all-over moccasin type bottom within which is secured a platform and heel unit on Whose rear part alasted rear part of upper is secured.

Still another object is to combine in a shoe or slipper structure a moccasin forepart and bottom with platform and hee1 unit providing arch-supporting functions.

Yet another object is to provide moccasin structural and aesthetic eiects in an arch-supporting shoe or slipper with the moccasin features conn'ed to the forepart or extending into the rear part at the base portions thereof.

A further object is to provide an arch-supporting moccasin type shoe or slipper which mayl have any of a wide variety .of heel structures and styles associated therewith.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve shoe and slipper constructions.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe embodying features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan of the shoe of Figure 1;'

Figure 3 is a medial longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure4 is a cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the bottom part of the moccasin forepart is formed, endtshewmgits rearwardly extending integral portion:

Figure e is e. side .elevation ef 'e modified shoe `construction embodying features of my invention:

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view on line 'I -l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevationof still another modification Figure 9 is a cross-sectional View on line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation showing how Cuban and other unitary heel structures may be utilized with my improved shoe and slipper structures; and

Figure 11 is an elevation, partly in section, of I still4 another modified form of base structure.

Referring 'to thevdrawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1- 5, the moccasin forepart' comprises Vthe bottom section I0 of leather vor other eiible vsheet material, and atop forepart section vI2 o i' exible sheet material.. A platform and l hee1 unit is indicated generally at I4, which may i include a full length platformelement I6 with which is combined, at the shank and heel regions, hee1 liftv elements I8, 20, one or more of which may'extend into the shank region to contribute to the shank curvature. As represented in Figs 1 and 3, the lift element4 I8 is arranged above thev platform element I6 and two shorter lift elements 20 are arranged below the platform. However, the heel and shank -regions may be variously formed and shaped by selected combinations of lift laminations, or a solid wedge heel may be used above or below the platform. Also, if desired, a Cuban or other style of unitary heel may be employed below the platform, with suitable shank stiflening means incorporated at the shank regions, such as the shank stiffener 22 shown in Fig. 3. A sock lining 24 is shown covering the stiffener and facing the entire area of the platform and heel unit.

In making the shoe of Figs. 1-5, the platform and heel uni't I4 is first laid on a last, after which the bottom sheet I0 may be laid over' the platform, it being suitably over-size so that material is available at the sides and 1toe for being turned against the sides and toe portion of the last. This sheet I0 preferably is a cut blank, as shown in Fig.

' 5, with its toe portion notched as at 28 to provide the toe flap 28. When the moccasin forepart is to hanging side portions of the sheet may be turned over the edge of the platform and against the last. and the top sheet I2 placed on the last so that its edges may be pinched with the edges of sheet III to draw both sheets tight n the last, after which the edges are laced together as at 32, or they may be stitched together, if desired. Preferably the toe flap is stitched at the closed notches, as indicated at 34. Additional lacing 38 is shown at the front of the upper and provides tie strings for the bow knot 38. By slitting the sheet I2 where the lacing 38 is embodied, this lacing may be utilized to draw the upper tightly over the last.

Preferably, when 'thel sheet III initially is laid over :the platform on the last, either it or th platform will have a coating of cement thereon so that the sheet III becomes secured to the platform throughout the area of its forepart.

The particular platform I6 herein represented is a matted fibre element having its edges bound with a fabric or other binding strip I1. Similarly, the heel liftelements I8, 20, as shown, each is a matted fibre element having a binding strip I8 or 2l secured around its edges. It should be understood, however, that the platform and heel lift -elements may be of various materials with or without their edges bound.

According tothe invention, the bottom forepart sheet I0 has an integral extension into the shank and heel regions. In the construction of Figs. 1-5, this extension is a bottoming strip 40 which faces the under surfaces of the platform and heel unit I4, being cemented or otherwise secured in place as best seen in Figs. 1 and 3. An outer thin heel lift element 42 may be cemented to the under side of the strip 48, at the heel, if desired.

'I'he rear portion of upper, indicated at 44, may be regularly lasted to the sock lining 24 and be secured by cement or otherwise upon the platform and heel unit I4, wi-th or without a shank stiffener 22. As shown, this rear part of upper comprises the quarter and counter, the latter having a preformed counter stlifener therein or not as may be desired. In the style portrayed the quarter is joined across the instep by an elastic goring 48, although a separate lacing may be provided if desired, in which case suitable eyelets would be provided as shown in the form of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the modified structure of Figs. 6 and 7 fthe bottom and top forepart sheets 48, are laced around their edges at 52 as in'the previous case but the lacing is lower down toward the tread plane of the forepart. lAlso, the rearwardly extending integral portion 49 of the bottom sheet 48 has dimensions permitting it to be turned over the edges or sides of the platform and heel unit all around [the rear parts of the shoe. A strip 54 of flexible material covers the top of the said unit with its edges projecting beyond the unit all around the rear parts of the shoe, so that its edges may be laced as at 58 to the upturned edges of the rearwardly extending oversize portion of the bot-tom sheet 48. At the rear of the shoe, this turned up bottom portion will beA notched similar to the notches at 25 in the blank of Fig.' 5, so that a rear ap is provided whose edges at the closed notches may be stitched at 58, similar to the toe stitches 34. Thus the moccasin bottom effect extends throughout the extent of the shoe, and the lacing 52, 58 is continuous all around the shoe.

The rear part of upper 60 is secured upon the `strip 54, by cement or otherwise, and fthe heel element or elements may lbe a solid wedge underlying the platform or may be superimposed lift lamina tions asshown.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate still another modincation in which the plattform element 42 extends from end to end vof the shoe in a single piane. and the rearwardly extending portion 84 of the bottom sheet 88 is wrapped over the edge of the platform and secured by cement between the platform and the heel lift element or elements above. As shown, a single wedge lift element 8l intervenes between the platform and the rear part of the upper.

While wedge type heels enter nicely into the design and, structure of my improved footwear, conventional Cuban or other unitary heel elements may be employed as suggested in Fig. 10, in which case a rearwardly extending strip 1I similar to the strip 48 of Figs. l5 may face the under surfaces in the shank region and also the breast of the heel 12, if desired.

In Fig. 11 there is illustrated a platform covering sheet comprising a leather split tread element 14 to whose marginal edge at the forepart is 'stitchedat 18 a strip 18 which extends over the platform edge for securement to the upper by stitching or 'by the lacing 80, as shown.v This tread element 14 has a rearwardly extending integral part 82 for facing the under surfaces of the platform and heel unit which-latter may be a unitary piece or laminated as shown.

I claim as my invention:

1. An article of footwear comprising a platform element extending from end to end of the article, a moccasin type forepart of upper having a tread part secured in covering relation to the under side of the forepart of said platform element; a heel unit underlyingy the platform element at the rear portion of the article; and a lasted rear portion of upper separate from said moccasin forepart of upper and secured on the upper surface of said platform element; said moccasin forepart of upper having an integral extension of its said tread part secured as a facing for the said heel unit.

2. An article of footwear comprising a platform element extending from end to end of the article; a moccasin type forepart of upper made of ya top and a bottom sheet of flexible material having their edges secured together, moccasin style, around the forepart of the article, said bottom sheet extending integrally downward over the edges of the platform and integrally over the under surface of the forepart of the platform element; a lasted rear part of upper, separate from.the moccasin forepart, and secured on the top side of the platform element at the rear of the article; and a shank and heel unit secured on the under surface of the platform element at the shank and heel regions of the article; said moccasin forepart of upper having an. integral extension secured in covering relation to under surfaces of said shank and heel unit.

3. An article of footwear comprising a platform element extending from end to end of the article; a moccasin type forepartof lupper encasing the forepart of the platform element and having a tread portion underlying the forepart of the platform element; a lift element combined fiatwise with the rearwardly extending portion of the platform elementl and constituting therewith a shank and heel unit; and a lasted rear portion of upper, separate from said moccasin forepart of upper, and secured'on the top side of said shank and heel unit; said moccasin forepart of. upper having an integral rearwardly extending portion covering the under surfaces of said shank and heel unit, and also covering the edges of said shank and heel unit at least throughout an appreciable fraction'of the total height thereof.

4. An article of footwear comprising a platform and heel unit of which a platform element extends from end to end of the article and at least one heel element is associated therewith and extends to provide shank curvature for the article; an integral bottom sheet of flexible material underlying the platform and heel unit throughout the area thereof and turned upward over the edges of said unit all around the article; a forepart top sheet of flexible material secured around its edges to the forepart edges of said upwardly turned portions of said bottom sheet; a rear top sheet of iiexible material overlying said unit at the shank and heel regions and secured around its edges to the edges of said upwardly turned portions of saidbottom sheet; and a lasted rear part of upper secured on said rear top sheet.

5. An article of footwear comprising a platform and heel unit of which a platform element extends from end` to end of the article and at least one heel element is associated therewith and extends to provide shank curvature for the article; an integral bottom sheet of flexible material underlying the platform and heel unit throughout the area thereof and turned upward over the edges of said unit all around-at least the forepart of the article, al forepart top sheet of flexible material secured around its edges to vthe forepart edges of said upwardly turned portions of said bottom sheet; and a lasted rear part of upper under which the rearward portion of said platform and heel unitris secured.

6. An article of footwear. comprising a platform and heel unit of which a platform element extends from end to end of the article and La heel element is associated therewith; a botand a lasted rear part oi upper, separate from said bottom and top sheetsLunder which the rearward portion of said platform and heel unit is secured.

7. An article of footwear comprising a platform and heel unit of which a platform eleo platform and heel unit.

ment extends from end to end of the article and at least one heel element is associated therewith and extends to provide shank curvature for the article; an integral bottom sheet of flexible material underlying the platform and heel unit .throughout the area thereof and turned upward over the edges of said unit all around the article; a forepart top sheet of flexible material secured around its edges to the forepart edges of said upwardly turned portions of said bottom sheet, the rear upturned portions of said bottom sheet being secured in covering relation to the edge of at least one of said platform and heel elements al1 around the shank and heel regions of the article; and a lasted rear part of upper secured above said platform and heel unit.

8. An article of footwear comprising a moccasin forepart having bottom and top sheets of exible materialwith their edge portions mutually overlying eachother and securedtogether around the forepart of the article, the said secured edg'es being spaced upward from the plane of the under side of said bottom sheet to provide Ifoot space between the two said sheets; a platform element having its forepart overlying and secured to said bottom sheet; a heel lift element secured to a rearwardly extendingv portion of` the platform element; and a lasted. rear part of upper secured above said platform and heel lift elements; said bottom sheet having a rear.- wardly extending integral portion covering at least a portion of at least one of said platform and heel lift elements.

9. An article of footwear comprising aD platform and heel unit of which a platform element extends from end to end of the article and at least one heel lift element is associated therewith and extends to provide shank curvature for the article;A a forepart of upper encasing the forepart of the platform element and cemented to its under surface throughout its forepart area, the top wall of said forepart of upper being spaced from said platform element to provide foot 'space therebetween; and a lasted rear part of upper separate from the said forepart of upper and secured above said platform and heel unit; said forepart of upper having a rearwardly extending integral portion secured below said ROY MALING. 

